It’s a giant party, with banger after banger at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. The Torchlight Procession makes a welcome return (Friday 29 December), with a new route from The Meadows to the city centre. With fire performers, pipe bands and a crew of Vikings from Shetland’s Up Helly Aa festival, watching the lights wend through the atmospheric Old Town is a fantastic experience. The event also raises around £50k to help charity Social Bite end homelessness. 

The Night Afore Disco Party brings together two of the biggest, bestest guilty pleasures around. Acclaimed ABBA sensations Björn Again headline, while singalong giants Massaoke support with their hairbrush anthems (Saturday 30 December). If you fancy something a little lower-key, the Assembly Rooms form an intimate setting for Ross Wilson’s homecoming gig as Blue Rose Code celebrate the very best of folk, soul and Americana at the Night Afore Hoolie (Saturday 30 December). 

Onto the night itself, when Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party brings in the bells in time-honoured tradition. Celebrating 30 years, the party includes street theatre, pipes and drums, and the fabulous fireworks.  Pulp headline the Concert In The Gardens, and their performance will be broadcast in the Pop Zone, creating one massive city-centre party. There’s also the Tartan Zone, featuring the best of Scottish music, while a giant outdoor Silent Disco will bring the house down (quietly). If that all sounds a bit too chilly, New Year Revels will see the back of 2023 indoors, with a ceilidh, DJs and Massaoke. Got wee ones? A similar event will also run for families, with Bairns New Year Revels starting at the civilised hour of 2pm. Finally, don’t flop on the first: First Footin’ is back with an afternoon of live music from artists including Hot Chip, Kathryn Joseph and Lau, in venues as diverse as St Giles Cathedral and The Auld Hundred. 

Edinburgh doesn’t grab all the glory; there’s plenty to do in Glasgow too. If you want to end the year on a laugh, The Stand’s Hogmanay Special brings the best of Scottish comedy to the stage, hosted by Marc Jennings, Susan Riddell and Gary Little, with headliner Ray Bradshaw. Shows kick off on Wednesday 27 December and run through to Sunday 31 December. The Ashton Lane Street Party is back for 2023: join 3,000 revellers with bands, street performers, DJs and pipers ringing in the bells. SWG3 brings together some of the best DJs in Europe for New Year’s Eve. This epic club night will see the whole venue come together, with Cassö, Eliza Rose and DJ Seinfeld among the headliners. And, 40 years after their triumphant debut The Crossing, Big Country: Hogmanay Wonderland finds Dunfermline’s finest rocking the stage at Òran Mór (also at Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh, Friday 30 December).